Court Street Bagels

UPDATE: I’m updating my review, since I visited the store two days later and they made it right. Plus, the bagels are really tasty. Mistakes happen, so just be sure to check your order before leaving in case something was overlooked. Also, a note to management: Please reconsider having a phone line if you don’t intend to use it. ORIGINAL: Visited about an hour ago and paid $16 for a bagel with lox and cream cheese. Just got home and there’s no lox on the bagel. I’ve called 10 times to request a refund, and no one is answering the phone. I don’t live close enough to go back now. Please contact me.

Great variety of bagels and cream cheese! I had the espresso Nutella bagel, which I can definitely recommend. It can get really busy on the weekend but it’s still never a long wait

I got the V4 vegan sandwich on an everything bagel. It had vegan egg, vegan bacon and vegan cheese. It hit the spot. Will be coming back again!

These bagels are incredible, when you actually get yours. I ordered a bagel at the counter and waited 15 minutes. It was not that busy. I nicely asked the cashier, who reads the tickets, if mine was coming out soon. She dismissed me and said yea. 15 minutes later I checked again and said if it wasn’t being made then I’d have to leave and would need a refund. The order was no where to be found (ha! Exactly I had asked 15 minutes earlier). A nice worker came over to help while she silently looked for the ticket which was suddenly no where to be found. He provided a refund with no issue. So basically I left hungry and she said nothing. When someone asks you to check… check?

The refresh of the place is nice but the atmosphere is too loud and there is little space for seating. The counter takes half the space. The music was ok but it stopped multiple times, even for minutes, and continued on the same song after. The person taking our order completely screwed up our order. The bacon was flavorless and soggy instead of crispy. The only thing that saves it is that the bagels are actually good.

I love the bagels, the atmosphere and the workers are wonderful! My only disappointment is that they do not have low-fat cream cheese or decaf coffee. It would be great if these were added to the menu.

Amazing bagels! Got the salmon and cream cheese bagel and all the flavours were well balanced. Good ratio of salmon to cream cheese for me. Hefty portion size and I devoured the whole thing it was so good. Quite pricey but worth it once in a while coming in at $18 for one bagel. The gentleman serving me was the most delightful man I’ve ever met and made the experience there so special! He’s an absolute gem and I swear his outstanding service legitimately made the food taste even better. Don’t be fooled by the decor, this place is worth the stop.

What happened to this place? I asked my sister if we could go to the AMAZING bagel place with the amazing bagel man we hit up a few years ago, and she told me that there’d been a hostile bagel takeover??? I thought she was joking but no! Bagel man Peter is GONE. The charm of the interior is gone too— it looks like the bagel equivalent of a struggling suburban Utah Starbucks (no offense to Utah). Pretty awful to steal a dude’s life’s work like that.

I was previously critical that they were overcooking the bagels. They've since adjusted. Very good! Back to near-Peter levels imo.

We recently stopped by Court Street Bagels and we are so glad we did! The bagels here are absolutely delicious...perfectly chewy with a crisp, golden crust. I went for the Hot Mama on a classic everything bagel and it did not disappoint. The bagel had just the right amount of seasoning and the cream cheese was smooth and fresh. The selection is great with plenty of bagel flavors and toppings to choose from. They also have a variety of spreads, sandwiches, and breakfast options, which makes it easy to customize your order. The staff was friendly and quick, and the shop itself had a cozy vibe. For a Saturday morning, the wait was less than 10 minutes. This place is a solid choice for anyone craving a great bagel. We will be back for sure. Enjoy!

Bagel prices can go up to $23 here. I ordered the court street bagel with salmon and cream cheese, it was good but I feel like it was a bit costly. With a drink added, you can easily pay around $30 for a breakfast which is pretty interesting. Service is a little slow, they should add more workers for the morning rush.

I stumbled upon Court Street Bagels in my quest for a bagel fix, and it didn't disappoint. It's your quintessential bagel joint, offering all the classic flavors and a plethora of cream cheese options. Opting for a salted bagel with sun-dried tomato cream cheese, I was pleasantly surprised by the creamy, fresh texture of the cream cheese and the bold, distinctive sun-dried tomato flavor. While the saltiness of the bagel caught me off guard, I'm eager to explore their other offerings. The ambiance exudes charm, with friendly staff efficiently handling orders amidst a bustling crowd. In just 10 minutes, my order was ready, allowing me to savor my bagel treat. Plus, discovering their iced coffee, rich and creamy at $3, added to the experience. Court Street Bagels hit the spot perfectly.

I was on a hunt for a new bagel spot as my local place was becoming not so tasty anymore. Food: I ordered a bagel with avocado and turkey bacon and tomato and was pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality. Service: The cashier was kind and pleasant. I will definitely be returning. Ambiance: Standard bagel shop. Roomy enough for seating, small but just enough space to maneuver around and dine in if you choose too.

What a find! Had a delicious everything bagel with egg and turkey and it did not disappoint. This place is small but it sure does get busy and packed! The gentleman behind the counter on Friday morning was the kindest person ever, not only with new customers, but with his regulars also. Service was fast and fyi cash only!

10/10 bagel shop in Brooklyn! My friend and I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan just to try it after researching the best bagel shop in NYC. Well worth the walk! Be prepared to wait, it's a small place but they work fast. It's also CASH ONLY, so plan accordingly! Lots of bagel options, and even more cream cheese options to pair. I went with the Sundried Tomato cream cheese on Everything Bagel. Look at those chunks of tomato! There was no shortage of shmear on that bagel. My friend got the Apple Cinnamon cream cheese on a plain bagel and raved over it, too. We also witnessed the sweetest thing while there. The owner is super hands on, I get the sense he's there every day. A couple of patrons didn't realize it was a cash only place and got to the point of paying when they realized it. The owner kindly told them it was no problem, to just come back later to settle up with him. I thought that was so kind of him! It really says a lot about him and his business. He truly cares about his patrons. I was also amazed at how cheap it was! I think my bagel with cream cheese and a Diet Coke can was $4.50! Please add Court Street Bagels to your list of must try places in NYC. I can't wait to go back!

We were in Brooklyn watching a basketball tournament and knew we wanted NY bagels to bring back home to Texas. Our hotel was nearby and Yelp steered me here on an easy walk. The line was long but moved quickly. The owner himself was working the counter and greeting regulars and visitors alike. I enjoyed a bagel with lox and the amount of cream cheese in the bagel is insane. Hubby had a bagel with egg and ham and cheese and he was loving it too. A couple tiny tables at the front where we could enjoy our breakfast but most people did takeaway. The bagels we took home were warm when we left and they survived the flight and kept in our freezer while they lasted (which wasn't long).

Bagels were delicious. I had a pumpernickel and it actually tasted like pumpernickel. Staff was courteous. Store was immaculate. Relaxing atmosphere and most important was the coffee was delicious.

Food (5/5): - Amazing bagel! I got a toasted everything bagel with lox, scallion cream cheese, red onions, tomatoes, and capers. It was so nicely crisp and the ratio of cream cheese to salmon was perfect for me Service (5/5): - Met the owner who has such a wonderful and kind heart! He was so warm and welcoming that I'm not surprised at all by the amount of guests that come visit Ambiance (5/5): - Just your regular casual bagel spot! - No frills but lots of community and warmth here :) One note I have to make is that I came here pretty early on a Saturday and there was already a line. However, once they were opened, they helped everyone pretty quickly so I didn't have to wait too long. I will be back!

I will keep this short -- BEST bagels in NYC. They were chewy but light as a cloud covered head to toe in everything seasoning. The bacon was crisp as ever and lox was the freshest I've had. They also make their cream cheese in house. I've had nothing like it at any other establishment. Also, I'll never forget the kind and warm service here. We were $1 short (the place is cash only) and the owner, who was making our bagels, gave us a huge smile and said "what you have is how much it'll be then". I felt terrible but he was insistent, and I'm pretty sure the warmth in service made the bagels taste even better! The place is small but the line moves quickly.

Tried this place again after going on opening day. Same horrible experience. Bacon egg and cheese on roll: roll too doughy and bland, bacon appalling with ribbons of "connective tissue" I had to pull out of my mouth (truly awful), egg as tasteless as McDonalds microwaved breakfast muffin and looking like a piece of yellow carpet, cheese barely visible and tasteless. Price? Absurdly high. Gluten-free bagel and scallion cream cheese: bagel mediocre and tasteless, scallion cream cheese incredibly watery with large bits of scallion almost floating in it. Mouth feel was horrible. Service: not like the old Court Street Bagels where "everyone knew your name." Bill comes with a suggested tip amount of 15, 20 or 25%. Tip for .... Placing order in a bag. I doubt place will last very long: poor quality, uninspired service, and absurdly high prices in relation to quality. Come back Pete (the previous somewhat eccentric owner).

Major side note: As of Monday (yesterday from this review,) Court Street Bagel is now operated under a different owner. Peter; the original owner for ages; was closing the place due to rent issues but it appears to be run by someone else now. Don't have any other details on who is running it and I am unsure if the bagel quality will be the same nor if it'll stay open. You can check the debacle on reddit and other pages. Edit: It's the Smith Street Bagel bros apparently. https://www.nycbageltours.com/news/the-truth-behind-the-court-street-bagels-saga Anyway, this is (or was as per the note above) one of the bagel places in the area but the only good one. Yes there's a bad spot up the street on court in downtown Brooklyn (LA) and the also not great Atlantic Bagels but along with Smith Street a good 15 minutes away, this was always excellent and they have daily lines for a reason. Always a solid quality bagel though their sandwiches were a bit overpriced even for the neighborhood (go to the excellent 24 hour spot on Smith Street/Smith Street Gourmet Deli instead.) When I got a hot one, they were very good but even for the rare times I went for lunch or the times I got a non hot one, they are/were still better than the other spots listed. My usual preference is/was a sesame or poppy with cream cheese not toasted (because a toasted bagel is bread in the shape of a bagel.) Lox spread was pretty solid here with plenty of lox and was honestly worth it also. They put a ton of cream cheese on also. Low 4/Mid 4

I'm a sucker for NY bagels. They just hit differently! I enjoyed a lox bagel sandwich from here while chilling at Brooklyn Heights Promenade with its magnificent cityscape (well, as magnificent as it can be from the current poor air quality). On-point NY bagel tacky-sponginess. Tasty lox and whipped cream cheese. I docked a star only because it was a bit expensive for a lox bagel sandwich based on what was given (I've had some that were of the same caliber but less expensive while being even larger). Still, I overall recommend this spot especially if you're looking for pretty good bagels.

Cute bagel shop with a white variety of bagels baked in house and a selection of cream cheese. Around 6$ for a bagel and cream cheese. The portions are huge and will definitely stuff you up! They add a ton of cream cheese, so make sure to tell them less cheese if you don't want that much. The black and white cookie isn't the best so I wouldn't recommend

Cash only. Best for people who LOVE cream cheese. Bagels are delicious and there are many options for both bagels and cream cheese. My favorite is the green onion cream cheese on an everything bagel. Lox is ok but a bit salty because there's a lot of smoked salmon and cream cheese.

There is always a long line outside, especially in the morning and over the weekends. Usually it would be less crowded after 2pm. Fortunately the service is efficient so you don't have to wait too long. The owner greets every customer and offers help passionately :) ＊ Sourdough Bagel w/ Low Fat Veggie Spread ＊ Sourdough Bagel w/ Tofu Lox Spread ＊ Whole Wheat Everything Bagel w/ Tofu Sundried Tomato Spread Chewy bagels. Especially love how chewy and moist the sourdough bagel was. The bagels are quite on that pricy side but not kidding, their portion is really DELUXE. They stuff the bagels with super thick layer of spread and many pieces of meat/lox. The shop provides plenty of low fat and tofu spread. Highly recommend for vegans and those on diet. **** They only accept cash. There's an ATM inside the store. My Recommendations: Sourdough Bagels, Low Fat & Tofu Spread Worth Returning? YES I always come back for their bagels

Charge 10 cents to slice a bagel in half, 'the cost of sharpening the knife'. First & last visit to the newly reopened Court Street Bagels! PS 1 star is apparently required to post the review.

I don't consider myself a bagel connoisseur and for the most part all bagels taste the same to me. Or so I thought until I tried the bagel sandwich at Court Street. I liked how unassuming the spot is, the bagel came out piping hot and my word it was delicious. This might be the best bagel I've eaten so far since I've moved to New York. Highly recommend!

Rotten bacon, rotten service. The manager has zero sensibility when it comes to customer service. His attitude and refusal to accept that they served rancid food was amazing. Argumentative over apologetic over making things right. We were v happy to finally have a bagel shop in the neighborhood but will find another place where won't be harassed for speaking up when something isn't right. Good luck with the food poisoning complaints!

My go to New York bagel spot. Cash only, long lines, but they do move. Their bagels are SO GOOD. Favorite cream cheese is the scallion, but many people also rave about their sweet ones. If you come on the weekend around 10 be prepared to wait 30 min in the wrap around the block line. They have a basket of day old bagels and pastries for $4/bag.

Came here for bagel and a coffee with a friend and had an amazing time! She got a bagel with egg and cheese while I went for a plain bagel with scallion tofu cream cheese and lox. The bagels were fresh and the perfect size (not overly huge like so many NY bagels are), the staff was super friendly, and we found a nice little table inside to sit and enjoy. You can tell this is a neighborhood favorite with all sorts of friendly people coming in and out. Definitely will be back!

As soon as we arrived, we knew it was the right spot with a long line out the door. We finally made it inside after about 10-15 minutes, so not too bad. They had multiple people taking orders. I got the Deluxe Lox Bagel ($18) on everything bagel, which included tomato and onions with scallion cream cheese. I opted out of the capers since it's not my thing. The bagel is huge and stuffed with so much cream cheese. The contrast of the onions gave it a nice crunch. These bagels are so soft and fluffy inside too. The bagel is delicious although definitely pricey, but I'd say it's pretty normal for a lox bagel in NY. The boyfriend also got the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Bagel ($8). This was tasty too, but not as stuffed as the cream cheese.

They massacred my boy! Brooklyn bagel chain bought a local bagel shop and made it worse. Looks fancier, but the bagels were worse, small cream cheese portion, and the ordering/pick-up/pay flow made no sense and made the wait worse than it needed to be.

We were visiting and we pleasantly came across Court Street Bagels. We came to this spot twice we loved it so much. The place is small, although it was nice to get a table to eat. The service was quick. The Eliza is a sandwich I could share since they definitely don't skimp on the meat.

Loveeee this shop! I'm from out of town and have been recommended this shop last year. Had to make a stop while in Brooklyn. Really enjoyed their vegetable cream cheese as well as the cinnamon apple cream cheese. The second one was a huge hit with my family back home because of the crispy bites of apple in the cream cheese bagels are huge and the bagels from the day before are bagged and located near the front for a reduced price, but they are perfectly fresh!

DONT COME HERE ANYMORE! I used to love this place when Pete owned it. USED to be the best bagels in the area. Now, after he was pushed out and the new owner gut renovated it-- the service is rude and cold, the bagels are smaller and far less seasoned (they originally promised they wouldn't change their recipes but nope), and the renovation removed and semblance of neighborhood charm (why in the world would you mess with the tin ceilings?)

Went there 2 days in a row when I was there. The bagels are so delicious. I had lox and cream cheese angrier both days. Brought a dozen for the family. Loved the bagels.

Long Island/queens bagel regular here. The reviews do not reflect this bagel shop unfortunately. They had a limited selection of bagels and my BEC was very dry. I wanted a super egg but they only had everything. The bagel itself was kinda burned and the bacon was floppy. They only take cash so make sure you're prepared for that. It was also 100 degrees in there! The service was good but I have to say the bagels were just mediocre.

A totally solid bagel. Nice and doughy, maybe a little heavy on the cream cheese but you can always scrape some out (vs not enough cream cheese which cannot be remedied in the same way).

Great bagels! Busy place with quick service. We enjoyed their bagel sandwich (which my husband said was one of the best bacon egg and cheese's he's ever had), everything bagel with cream cheese, red velvet muffin, and black & white cookie. A bit of a while in the wall atmosphere but we liked the vibe.

2nd Time here. There can be a long line but that is usually a good sign. Owner is very nice and the workers too!! If anything I would personally ask for less cream cheese. Here's what we got and enjoyed Everything bagel with pastrami salmon Multigrain Smoked salmon *Pastrami/bacon/egg/avocado - custom sandwich. Next time I would pass on the bacon and get sesame bagel instead. Top 3 bagel spots for me. Thanks

I come to this location because i saw the reviews 4.5. I ordered simple order beagle with cream cheese and jelly. And little bit tossed. I got only cream cheese and cold. I would never come here back even if i,m starving

The prices on the menu are not what they ring up at the cashier, so watch out for that.

This is such a great little neighborhood bagel place in Brookyln. I feel like this is exactly what I would expect in NYC. The bagels are always delicious and the personality of the owner is larger than life. I get a big smile when I come here. Cash only!

Popped in after walking the Brooklyn Bridge and decided to get an egg bagel with cream cheese. Nothing beats a New York bagel and they do it well! Bagel was really good and they give you more than enough cream cheese. I also got a mini black and white cookie which was just ok. It gives me old school mom and pop store vibes which I like. Service was quick.

What a great bagel ! I am all for a classic bagel with cream cheese and it was yummy! My spouse and brother in law got delicious options as well. Highly recommended

Unassuming place that does it right. Amazing bagel that was not shy on the everything seasoning. Great fresh bagel with ample cream cheese. Service was friendly and price was decent enough.

Vegans beware. They have a vegan menu and I appreciate them making an effort to accommodate vegans, but they don't take that label seriously at all. For example, they have something I think was called a "vegan delight" or something to that affect that had "nova lox" (fish) as a standard ingredient. I thought this might be a mistake because some vegan places prepare an imitation lox made out of smoked thin carrot slices, so I asked the front counter to clarify. They just pointed to the fish in the case and said "that's our lox". I asked, "so why is this listed on a vegan menu if it has fish on it?" and they replied because the cream cheese is vegan. They have more than one "vegan" item on their menu that isn't vegan at all by default like this. We ordered one of the vegan breakfast specials, and initially it came with real eggs. I brought it back to the counter explaining that these weren't the vegan eggs. The response was a bit of a blank stare and a reply of "vegan eggs?" from the cash register person, as if she had no idea what I was talking about. They re-made the sandwich and almost got it right the second time - I had to bring it back to the counter again because even though I stressed this when I brought the bagel back to them, they again forgot the avocado that we paid extra for. So in summary: I actually liked the bagels, but it took returning to the counter twice to get right the order to what I paid for, and the employees/management here don't actually take their vegan menu isn't really a vegan menu.

One of the best bagels in Brooklyn and NYC. Great place with quality ingredients. Be aware they are Cash only, but they do have an ATM if you need one.

My friend lives on court street and the first stop after getting into Brooklyn was court street bagels. I was not disappointed, I guess there's usually a line which just shows how good the bagels are and it's cash only. The owner was awesome and a great start to my morning, looking at reviews I think his name is Peter. The atmosphere I feel is a classic New York bagel shop and then the workers and vibe is the cherry on top

As a self proclaimed bagel aficionado, I would describe the bagels at Court Street Bagels as "highly respectable." Decent flavor, pretty good texture (though a little dense, and would benefit from a cragglier crust). I loved how thoroughly seasoned (on both sides!) the everything bagel was, and I also appreciated that they not only had tofu cream cheese, but a few varieties of tofu cream cheese flavors (for all you vegans/dairy free folks out there!). The ambiance of the joint is very classic, traditional bagel shop with a few tables to sit at inside, but definitely skewed more towards grab and go take away. Good bagels, would go again.

Good bagels, fast service. Nothing particularly remarkable about anything but my friend did complain that her plain bagel was smaller than ours.

Always seems to be a line here and for good reason, because the bagels are excellent! Unlike a lot of other places they seem to use fresh rather than microwaved eggs in their breakfast sandwiches. Love their cream cheese spreads as well. Unfortunately there's not a lot of seating inside.

Unfriendly service. Disorganized. Slow service. Overpriced. Average bagels. .

New ownership. New mediocre bagels. Large over doughy no density cheap ingredients. Just like the ones they're selling at Smith street bagel by the same owners. Too bad. The neighborhood lost here.

Second time here and it's always a fun and delicious experience. The bagels are delicious and freshly baked on the premises. I got the sausage egg and cheese bagel sandwich on a cinnamon raisin bagel for $8. (Yes I like to mix the sweet and savory.) I've only been here on weekends and there's always a line but it moves pretty quickly. The owner is also incredibly personable and makes you think you're going to eat the most delicious thing and he doesn't disappoint! They also have a basket on the side for day-old bagels / pastries. They have bags of 6 bagels for $4 which is a pretty good deal if you're going to freeze them and eat them slowly throughout the week.

Walked in to the supposedly new and improved, what a waste of space!!! I've lived on Court Street for more than 50 years and 1 of most favorite places was the bagel shop 181 Court St. especially when Peter was there. I miss Peter so much his smile and friendly demeanor and how he knew his customers and their orders. First time I went in to the new bagel shop and was met with a nasty person with a bad attitude and the atmosphere was just unfriendly. Went back another time just to feel the atmosphere and to check if maybe it was that one time, it wasn't. Cold not an inviting place. I will never ever go back. I walked out not a penny will I spend there ever. And if the new owners don't care because some of the newbies in this neighborhood don't care either...time will tell eventually. And to the new owners learn from Trader Joe's they surely know how to treat and cater to their customers. It doesn't cost money to be Kind!

Great bagel spot! Bagels: very fresh and great texture. Tasty both as a sandwich, on their own, or with spread. We bought 6 (+1 free) deal to take home, and I've been enjoying delicious lox bagel sandwiches every morning at home. Bagel sandwiches: delicious! I tried the Lox Deluxe - pricy for $18 but completely loaded with fresh lox, so I would say it is quite worth it. Huge and shareable between two to four people depending on what else you get. We got 2 bacon egg and cheese sandwiches which were classic and tasty. Also got a bagel with the bacon and herb spread. It was STUFFED with the spread! So much spilling out all over the sides - mmm perfect. Just how it should be. Spread was airy and not too thick with great flavor. Really enjoyed it. Service/vibe: on point. Line moves fast. Owner of the shop is in there working hard on a Sunday morning and was super friendly, also quite efficient. The only suggestion would be to have the menu visible on the door or viewable while standing in line, because you can only see the menu once you're already at the counter and need to order without holding up the line.